Clothes-washing machine



A. RANKIN CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed NOV- 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor rnold Ran/rin A. RANKIN LOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed NOV.5, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheetl Inventar Arnold y lian/wn lll Patented O ct. 23, 1328.

y lineasg PATENT GFFICE.

ARNOLD RANKIN, PORTLAND, OREGON.

CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed November 3, 1927. Serial No. 230,772.

This invention relates to ne w and useful improvements in clothes` washing machmes, and aims to provide a highly novel and extremely eiiciently'operatin device, whereby clothes may be rapidly was ed, and whereby the moisture may be discharged therefrom after the'washing operation so that the4 combined washing and ,wringing functlon may be carried out through the medium of the, present machine.

Broadly, the device consists of awater chamber together with two or more clothes chambers mounted therein, means being provided for causing the revolving of the clothes chambers within the water chamber and the simultaneous rotation of the clothes chambers on their own axes ,during their revolution within the chamber. Furthermore, means is provided for permittingthe water in the water chamber to pass into and exhaust from the clothes chambers so that the clothes therein will become thoroughly washed. Furthermore, means is provided whereby the clothes chambers may be rapidly rotated within the water chamberafter the same has been drained and after washed clothes have been disposed within the clothes chambers so that the water will be thoroughly wrung therefrom.

One of the most important objects of this invention is -to provide a clothes washing machine that is, when considering the possibilities of the device, of exceedingly simple construction and inexpensive of manufacture,

lthe same embodying but few parts, and these so corelated as to reduce the possibility of disarrangement to a minimum.y

With the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention will be better understood, the same comprises the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more 4fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings wherein t like reference characters indicate corresubstantially upon the line of Figure 1 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through one of the clothes containers, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary .horizontal section for more clearly disclosing the corrugated lining upon the interior thereof together with the 'means whereby the water from the main water chamber may enter and exhaust from the clothes container.

Figure 7 is adetail horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 7--7 of Figure 1 looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the ioor of the machine, and through the drive belt for disclosing in side elevation a belt shifting mechanism that affords an essential feature of the device, and

Figure 9 is an outer side perspective of one of the agitator wings associated with the outer sides of the clothes containers.

N ow having particular reference to the drawings, my novel clothes washing machine consists of a cylindrical water tank 5 having a pair of hinged lids 6 6 at its upper end and constructed with a pair of spaced walls 7-7 at its lower end for providing a circular chamber 8 therebetween. This tank is supported upon a plurality of rigidly attached legs 9 within which is al circular wall 10. Arranged horizontally within the chamber 8 'between the spaced walls 7--7 is a suitable burner or heat-ing device 11, while leading from the main bottom wall of the said tank and arranged within the chamber 8 is a horizontal drain pipe 12 that projects through the 5 and that is equipped at its upper end with two or more radiating arms 16-16, the outer ends of which are upturned as clearly disclosed in Figure 1. The end of each upturned portion of the arms 16 equipped with a ver-v tical pin 17 upon which is rotatably arranged a collar 18 formed integral with the lower end of a circular clothes chamber 19. Furthermore, each collar 18 haskeyed thereto a spur gear 20 for a purpose presently to be described. Y

Journaled at its lower end within a suitable bearing 21 provided at the center of the wall 10 between the tank legs 5 is a vertically extending shaft 23 rotatable through the hollow shaft 15 as clearly indicated in Figure 1. The upper end4 of this shaft 23 projects beyond the inner end of the hollow shaft 15 and has keyed thereto a relativel large gear 24 that has mesh with the gears 20 of the two clothes containers 19. The lower end of the hollow shaft 15 terminates within the lower end of theshaft 23, while keyed to the shaft 23 beneath the shaft 15 is a belt pulley 25 flanged at its lower end as disclosed. Above the lower end of the hollow shaft 15 there is formed av flange 26 while that portion of the shaft 15 beneath said flange affords a belt pulley.

' In order to prevent the rotation of the shaft 23 there is provided a brake band 27 surrounding the same above the flange 26, this band being equipped internall with a suitable lining and of a norma ly expanded nature. However, there is provided suitable means as 1nd1cated generally by the reference character 28 in Figure 7 to contract this band Whenever it is desiredto prevent the rotation of the shaft 15, said means 28 including a` hand lever 2 9 arranged at the outside of the tank 5 and having a suitable spring detent for cooperation with a toothed segment 30 whereby the lever may be locked in various positions.

Arranged upon the wall 10 between the legs 9 of the tank 5 adjacent the edge thereof is an electric motor 31, the inner end of the armature shaft 32 of which is equipped with a small bevel gear 33. Suitably mounted for rotation between the lower wall 7 yof the tank 5 and the wall 10 adjacent the motor 3l is a vertlcally extending belt drum 34 equipped with a .large bevel gear 35 having permanent mesh wlth the motor shaft gear 33. Surrounding this drum 34 is an endless belt 36 that is also adapted for engagement around the pulley provided at the lower end of the hollow shaft 15, as well as the belt pulley 25 at the lower end of the shaft 23. In order to shift the belt from the shaft 15 to the pulley 25 or vice versa, there is provided a belt yengaging yoke 37 arranged over one flight of the belt, which yoke is rovided Within itsjupper and lower ends wit anti-friction rollers 38-38, see Figure 8. This yoke 37 is arranged upon the upper end of a vertical stem 39 that is movable through an opening in the wall10 between the tank legs 9. Beneath the wall 10 saidfstem is bent outwardly at right angles and is equipped at its outer end with a head 40 engagea le by the foot of the operator so that the stem, and consequently the yoke .37 may be depressed. For normally maintaining the yoke in raised position so as to maintain the belt 36 upon the lower end of the shaft 13 an eXpansible `coil spring 41 is disposed around the stem 39 between the wall 10 and a plate 42 arranged adjustable on the stem. l

At the top side of the tank 5 the same is formed centrally with a stationary wall 43,

while secured to the under side thereof and depending therefrom is an elongated shaft bearing collar 44, rotatable within which is a verticalshaft 45 the upper end of which projects through the wall 43 of the tank 5 and is formed at said upper end with a slot 46. The

lower end of this shaft 45 is suitably anchored- Each of the clothes containers 19 is open at its top side and `equipped with a suitable slip type lid 48 adapted to be locked 1n posltion upon the container through the medium of a suitable locking means preferably of the character indicated in Figure 3, designated generally by the reference character 49. The bottom wall of each container 'is corrugated and formed with perforations, while the side wall of each container is lined with corrugated sheet metal 50, the portions of the lining contacting :the container, being formed with perforatio-ns 51 which register with perforations 52 in the side wall of the container so that the water within the tank 5 may enter and discharge into and from said clothes container.I The side walls of the clothes containers 19 are provided externally with vertically extending and suitably spaced .agitator wings 53, preferably formed o-f st1f sheet metal pressed inwardly intermediate their longitudinal edges so as to form side wings Walls ofthe containers as clearly disclosed in Figure 5.

During the washing operation the tank 5 1s obviously filled with water together'with a suitable quantity of soap, while said water 1s brought to the proper temperature through `54-5'4 having spaced relation with the side I the water containers to revolve within the Water tank 5 and at the same time intermeshing of the gears 20 of the water containers with the stationary gear 24 W1ll cause the rotation of the containers upon their own axes. A movement in one direct-ion is maintained for a slight length of time after which the movement is reversed byy reversing the rotation ofthe motor 13 which is of the reversible t pe. During this o eration the water wit in the tank 5 Wlill ow into and from the containers 19 causing the proper washing of the clothes therein. In order to stop the rotationof the container immediately after the motor 31 is stopped, the brake mechanism is applied in a manner previously described. After the washing operation the water is` drained from the tank 5 whereupon the containers in which the wet clothes are contained, are rotated to expel by centrifugal motion as much water as is possible, so that the clothes will dry more readily when placed on a line or like structure. The belt 36 is then forced downwardly into engagement with the pulley 25 of the shaft 23. The latch blade 47 is released, and the brake mechanism 28 actuated to lock the shaft 15. The gear 24 will then be caused to rotate by the operation of the belt 36, and the rotation thereof will cause the rapid vrotation of the containers 19 resulting in the centrifugal separation of all water from the clothes within the containe-rs 19.

In view of the foregoing description when considered in conjunction with the accompany drawings, it will be apparent that I have provided a highly novel, simple, and veX- tremely efficiently operating clothes washing and wringing mechanism that is well adapted for all the purposes heretofore designated.

Even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detail structural elements 1t is nevertheless to be understood that certain changes may be rmade therein without affecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I'claim as new is l. In a clothes washing machine of the character described, a water tank, a shaft journaled through the bottom of the tank, a hollow shaft surrounding said first mentioned shaft and projecting into said tank,

radiating arms upon the upper end of4 the.

hollow shaft, clothes containers mounted for character described, a water tank, a shaft journaled through the bottom wall of the tank, a hollow shaft disposed around said,

first mentioned shaft, means whereby said shafts may be independently operated, a plurality of radiating arms upon the upper end of the hollow shaft, perforated clothes containers mounted for rotation upon said arms, amaster gear upon the upper end of the first mentioned shaft, small spur gears arranged beneath said clothes containersand keyed thereto, said gears having mesh with the master gear, and means whereby either shaft may be locked aga-inst rotation.

3. In a clothes washing machine of the character described, a water tank, a shaft mounted for rotation through the bottom wall of the tank, radiating arms upon the upper end lof the shaft, vertically arranged perforated clothes containers mounted for rotation upon the ends of the arms, mea-ns whereby said hollow shaft vmay be rotated for causing the circular movement of the clothes containers within the tanks, and means whereby said clothes containers may be revolvedpn their own axes during their circular movement within the tank, and means for preventing the circular movement of the clothes containers within the tank and for imparting rotation thereto upon their own axes.

. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARNOLD RANKIN. 

